Leaching-tank or filter.



H. E. KIER.

LEAGHING TANK 0R FILTER.

APPLICATION FILED 00T. 22, 1490s.

1 ,058,869. a Patented Apg. 15, 1913.

, 4 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

gi: Y WV H. E. KIER. LEAHINQ TANK 0R FILTER. APPLIOATION FILED 001.22, 1906.

Patented Apr. 15, 1913.

H. E. KIER. LBAGHING TANK 0E. FILTER. APPLICATION FILED 00122, 1906.

1,058,869. Patented Apr. 15, 1913.`

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

H. E. KIER.

LBAGHING TANK 0R FILTER.

APPLIUATION FILED 00122, 190e.

Patented Apr. 15, 1913.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

. o/@o/@ooo/oooooooooo HARRY E. KIER, OF COLORADO SPRINGS, COLORADO.

LEACHING-TANK OR FILTER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

` Patent-ed Apr. 15,1913.

Application led October 22, 1906. Serial No. 339,892.

provement in Leaching-Tanks or Filters, of

which the following is a. specification.

My invention relatesto improvements m leaching tanks or filters, such, for example,

as those used in the cyanid process, and has for its object the production of a device by the use of which all liability of slime-to accummulate in the bottom and clog the filter is obviated.

A further object is to provide an improved means for agitating the contents of a vat or tank to facilitate the leaching operation.

A further object is to provide improved means whereby air may bel admit-ted to the mass under treatment if desired.`

A further object is the production of a cheap and efficient device and one which is not liable to get out of order.

y ln the proper carrying out of the cyanid process, it is of the utmost in'lportance that.

the aqueous solution of cyanid'of potassium, ordike chemical used, be brought' into contact with the precious metal, in order that such solution may dissolve' the metal. In practice, the ore is crushed or pulverized to the requisite degree of finen'ess, and placed y in the vat or tank, and then saturated by the addition of the solution of the required degree of`strength. The mixture is then allowed to remain in the vat or tank for a certain number of hours, in order to permit the precious metal to. Ibe dissolved.- This length of time .varies according to the 'nature of the ore, and' in order to facilitate the operation and slierten the time required, the

mass `is agitated more or less vigorously, and

in the event that the ore is rich in precious metal and the solution strong, it is often advisable to provide for an additional supply ef free oxygen in order to more fully dissolve the metal. In the event that the material contains slime, more agitation is needed.

This material, however, is very vfinely divided, and is apt' to pack closely, forming a This slime consists of finely dividedv clayey residue, which Asettles in the tailings' reservoir, and is often rich in precious metal.

drawn off from thetailings reservoir, and the slime allowed to dry, it forms a hard layer that cracks in the sun, but can be ground int-o powder. If, however, this caked slime is simply broken up or partly disintegrated, all portions are. not acted upon vby the solution` and consequently do not give up the metal. They are also mechanically .object'ionable.r as they formimpervious nuclei throughout the mass of tailings, which greatly interfere with theuniformity ofI per'colation. Pulverized slime .alone has been. found to be practically impervious to cvanid liquors under the old process, and it. has always been necessary to mix with the slime ore of more or less finely divided particles. After the mass has been Vthoroughly saturated and the preciousmetal has been taken up in the solution, this solution is allowed to Vdrain off through a strainer or filter, and treated with zinc or in son-1e other approved manner in order to precipitate the precious metal. It is evident, therefore, that if slime is allowed to accumulate at t-he bottom of a tank, the result isvvery unsatisfactory, both in preventing the solution from acting on the slime in order to dissolve the metal in theslime, and

also in preventing the leaching of the saturated solution from the tank.

By the use of my improved device, most of the above difficulties are in a large measure overcome.

These and such other objects as may hereinafter appear are attained by my device, an embodiment of which is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l represents a vertical cross-section of my improved filter and agitator.

Fig. la represents a jack for raising the agi- -larged cross-section on the line' 7--7 of Fig.,

3. Fig. 8 is a perspective showing means of separating the cross-bars. Fig. 9 is an enlarged front elevation showing the 4,method of carrying the agitator shaft on the side of the tank. Fig. 10 is a cross-section on the line 10-10 of Fig. 9.

Like figures of reference indicate like parts in the several figures of the drawings. Referring no-w to the various figures, 11 represents a tank or fiuid receptacle having a vertical surface 12, and a concave bottom `'supporting ribs 17, preferably of T-shaped iron, are curved downwardly from the top ofl the spherical bottom to the bottom thereof, and supported a slight distance from the inner surface thereof. Arranged between the ribs 17 are a series ofsectional ribs 1S,A

formed of small sections 1.8 and secured together and to the tank by means of hinges 19. These sectional ribs are also Tvshaped vand preferably of Wood, and maybe grooved as at 18c to permit the use 'of air as a back pressure. Extending cross-wise of t-he ribs are aseries of'circumferential strips or bars 2O having spacingj blocks21 therebetween.

These strips and bars rest on the bottom ofl the tank andare grooved as shown in Fig. 8 (20?), in order to permit the free flow of the solution from the filter. The bars are made in varying lengths and slipped in' place under the flanges 17a and 18b of the -ribs, commencing with those next the slime opening. As they are fitted under vthe flanges of the ribs, they will not be forced upwardly in the levent that back pressure is used through the opening from which the.

solution is drawn. An angle iron 22 extends around the tank above the ribs, and .be-

" filter proper 25.

something similar.

tween the ribs and the flange are two rings' 23 and 24, `between which is secured the A corresponding ring 26 and flangedrmg 27 and collar 28 surround the lower slime opening 29, the filter proper being secured between the ring 26 and vflanged ring 27. The filter-25` may consist of layers of canvas or cocoa matting or The flanged ring 27 is bolted or riveted to the bottom as shown at 30'. It will thus be seen that when the filter materia'l25 is tightly wedged between themrmgs 23 and 24 at the4 top and/the rings 26 and `27 at the bottom, there is no opportunity for any portion of the slime getting between the filter material and the bottom of the tank. `An opening 31 is provided in the bottom near the slime openingL by means of which the solution may be drawn through a pipe 32 into any convenient receptacle. A tube 33 is also connected with the slime opening 29. Both of these tubes are provided with valves and adapted to'be used'for back pressure or vacuum, especially as it may be desirable to force air through the bottom into the slime or use a vacuum to hasten the filtering operation. In order to prevent backV pressure fiom forcing up the filter material, I provide strips preferably of hoop materal 33"l that are placed on top of the material over the ribs and secured thereto in any desired manner.

Mounted within the bottom of the tank is an agitator consisting of a series of curved arms 34 and 35, mounted on a horizontal shaft 3G, passing through stuffing boxes 37, fitted outside ofthe tank and seated in' journals 38 and 39.- One end of the shaft is extended at 40 and driving pulleys mounted thereon, by means of which the agitator is revolved. The agitator may consist of pipes of any desired diameter with the horizontal shaft consisting of a pipe of a larger diameter in order to provide extra strengtli, and one end of the shaft-preferably that opposite to the driving pulley-f connected with an air supply 42, and any desired portion of the agitator within the tank may be perforated as at 43, throughwhiclrperforations `air or any other desired fluid may be forced within the tank. The air enters at 42 and through the shaft 36 to 44, whereit passes through branches 45-46 into the agitator arms. If desired, the branches 45 and 46 may be dispensed with and the air or fiuidforced directly from the hollow shaft 36 into the arms, as at 36?.

Referring now to Figs. 9 and 10, the shaft 36 passes through an elongated slot 47 in the side ofthe tank. This slot iscovered with a movable plate 48. The frame 49` is riveted to the outside of the tank on which are secured clamping plates 50, provided with set-screws 5l by .means of `which the movable covering plate may be secured in anyA desired position. changing of the vert-ical position of the agitator within a predetermined distance. The vertical movement may be effected by means of small jacks V(shown in Fig. 1a as 39a) below the bearing, or in any well known manner.

In the operating of my device, the crushed ore, or slime, or material to be treated, is dumped into the tank, the openings in the pipes 32and 33 being closed. Thecyanid solution of the proper strength is introduced and the agitator arms revolved in order to -thoroughly mix the solution togethen find in practicethat four parts ofsolution to one ofcrushed ore or slime is about the correct proportion. The ore is This permits thc crushed and run through a mill so as to be in a very fine state, and when mixed with same as slime.. After the solution has had time to act upon the metal, the valves in the tube 32 are opened, permitting the solution to flow through the filter. The agitator arms are revolved as often as necessary in order to thoroughly mix the materia-l, and also to prevent, the slime or finer' material collecting at the bottom and clogging, the' filter, thus prevei'xting the Asolution vfrom leaching through.

It will be noted that the outer agitator arms are of the same degree of curvatureas the. filter, and so placed that they reach nearly to the tilter itself. This is quite necessary, as otherwise a thin coating ofslime would collect on top of the filter and render it ineffective. I have shown the bottom of the tank curved, with the filter corresponding therewith, but it. is quite evident that I could, if desired, use a tank having a flat bottom'and of a rectangular cross-section, and at the same time have. t he supporting ribs and cross rilis, together with'the filter material, secured in a concave position therein. Itis essential, however. that the curve of the outer arms of the agitator correspond to the contour of the filter.

It will be noted that l have perforated the agitator arms at several points,and provided for the introduction of a current of air or any desired Huid therethrough. In the treatment of ores by the eyanid process, it is often necessary, especially if the ore is very rich in precious metals and the solution is strong, to provide for an extra supply of free oxygen. lThis is accomplished by the forcing of air through the agitator arms while the agitator is in operation, thusbringing the oxygen in Contact withall portions of the material being treated.` It is often desirable at times, especially when the slime is quite line and liable to collect at the bottom, to force jets of air outwardly through the agitator arms against the filter, thus blowing away the accumulated slime that may lind lodglnent in t-he narrow space between the surface y'of the filter and the path of the agitatorarms. A similar result is accomplished by the use of back pressure through the opening 31, in Which event the air forced through the filter forces the small accumulation of slime on the filter upwardly into the path of the agitator arms, Where it is again disintegrated. The hollowr agitator may also be used to force additional Huid Within the tank during the filtering operation or after the withdrawal of a charge, in order to clean the filter before the `introduction of afresh charge.

In the prior art, it has been customary i generally to mix the ore and solution in a vat or compartment'separate'from the filter, and then pour the mixture into, the filterand aliow the solution to'leaeh through in the ordinary manner. By this method nearly one-half the solution carrying the precious metal remains in thefmixture, and it is necessary to remove this to the mixer again and add other solution before again placing itin the leaching tank. In the eomf bined agitators and filters that have been used prior to this time, the forms of agitators have been such that the mixture is subjected to a centrifugal movement around the diameter of t-he tank, and in no case has the materia-l been drawn upwardly, as `it avere, as is the case when my improved agiconsequent lack ot elliriency in the operation; whereas in my device, either by the use of air through the agitator arms being' forced dou-'nwardly against the surface of the iilter, or by the use of back pressure through the Solution discharge opening, the

entire mass is kept in a state of constant agitation, and no opportunity is given for the formation of deposits of slime.

I ind in using my improved apparat-us that there need be no delay after the removal of one charge before the introduction of an other, so that the operation is practically continuous. As soon as the mixture at the proper consistency is placed in the tank and agltation commences, the gold bearing solution can be immediately drawn'ot't1 through lthe filter into what is termed the, strong solution tank. When the volume. of the mixture has been reduced about one-half, I introduce therein a like quantity of weaker solution While the mixture is still subjected to constant agitation. I find that after this' resulting mixture is reduced one-half, and the solution drawn therefrom carried into what. is termed the Weak solution tank, practically all the gold bearing solution and cyanid has been removed, and the remaining lnixture can be dra-Wn off through the slime discharge pipe and deposited on the dump. It is found in practice vthat about forty per cent. of the fmoisture remains in the slime when it is drawn from the filter, so the addition of the Weak solution inthe second instance serves to render the process more efficient, and also enables a greater percentage of the cyanid to be saved, the moisture discharged in the slime being quite barren in values of either gold or cyanid. It may be 'advantageous at. times, in View of the combination of other elements with the gold bearing ore, lto add a third charge of wea-k IOC drawn off-from the resultin mixture; but

`as stated abo've, I generally nd that this is inexpedient.

I claim:

1. In a device of tho class described, the combination with a Huid receptacle or tank having a concave bottom, of concave filter-l ing. means disposed near the bottom thereof, ot' adjustable agitating iiicans within said tank, and means for removing the contents of the tank.

2. In a device of the class described, the combination with a fluid receptacle or tank lia ving a. concave bottom, of co-ncave filtering means disposed near the bottom thereof, of vertically adjust-able agitating means within said tank, and'ineans for removing the contents of the tank.

In a device of the class described, the combination Witha fluid receptacle or tank, of concave filtering means disposed near the bottom thereof, of vertically adjust-able agif tat-ingmeans within said tank, and means for. removing the contents of the tank.

4. In a device of the class described, the

combination with a liuid receptacle oi' tank having a concavebottoni, of Filtering means disposed'iiear the`bottoni and substantially conforming to the contour thereof, of vertically adjustable agitating means within said tank. and means for' removing the contents of the tank'.

5. In a device of the class described, the combination with a Huid receptacle or tank having a concave bottom,'o filtering means disposed. near the bottoni t ereof, of vertically adjustableagitating means Within said tank, said agitating means comprising curved arms adapted to be revolved about a horizontal axis, and means for removing the content-s of the tank. l

6, In a device of the class described, the combination with a fluid receptacle or tank having a. concave bottom, of filtering means disposed near the bottom thereof, of vertically adjustable agitating means within said tank, said agitating means' comprising curved arms corresponding in curvature to the contour of thebottom of the tank, adapted to be revolved about aahorizontal axis,

l and meafns vfor removing the content-s of the 7. Ina device of the class described, the combination of a fluid receptacle or tank having a concave bottom, of filtering means disposed near the bottom thereof and substantially conforming to the contour. of vertically adjustable agitating means within said tank, said agitating means comprising curved arms corresponding in curvature to the contour of the bottom of the tank, adapted to be revolved about`a horizont-al axis, 'andmeansfor removing .the contents of the tank.

8. In a device of the class described, the combinati-on with a fluid receptacle or tank having a concave bottom, of filtering means disposed near the bottom and conforming with the curvature thereof, of adjustable hollow perforated agitating means within said tank, means for forcing air through said agitating means, and means for reinoving the 'contents of the tank.

9. In a deviceI of the class described, the combination with a fluid receptacle or tank having a. concave bottom, of filtering means disposed near the bottoni and conforming with the curvature thereof, of vertically adjustable hollow perforated agitating means within said tank, means for forcing air H`through said agitating means, and means for removing the contents of the tank.

10. In a device of the class described, the combination with a fluid receptacle or tank, o-f filtering means disposed near the bottoni and conforming with the curvature thereof, of vertically7 adjustable hollow perforated agitating means within said tank, means for forcing air through said agitating means, and means for reiiicving the contents of the tank.

l1. ln a device of the class described, the combination with a fluid receptacle or tank having a concave bottom. of filtering means disposed near the bottom thereof and substantially conforming to the contour thereof, of verticallyD adjustable hollow perforated agitating means seated within said tank, means for forcing air through said agitating means, and means for removing the. contents of the tank.

12. In a device of the class described, the combination .with a Huid receptacle or tank having a concave bottoni, of filtering means disposed nearthe bottom thereof, of vertically adjustable agitating means within said tank, said' agitating means comprising curved hollow perforated arms adapted to lhe revolved about a horizontal axis, means for forcing air 'Within said arms, and means for removing the contents of the tank.

13. In a device of the class described, the combination with a fluid receptacle or tank having a concave bottom, of filtering means disposed near the bottom thereof, of vertically adjustable agitating means within-said tank, said agitating means comprising curved hollow perforated arms corresponding in curvature to the contourrof thebottom ofthe tank, adapted to be revolved about a horizontal axis, means for forcing air within said arms,l and means for removing the contents of .the tank. r

14. Ina device of the class described.l the combination with a fiuid receptacle or tank having a concave bottom, of filtering means disposed near the bottom thereof and substantially conforming to the contour thereof,

within said tank, said agitating means comprlsing curved hollow perforated .arms correspondlng 1n curvature to the contour of the vbottom of the tank, adapted to be revolved aboutl a horiz ntal axis, means'for forcing air wit-hin said arms, and means foifremovingthe contents of the tank.

'15. In a device of the classdesc`ribed', the combination with a cylindrical fluid receptacle or tank having a concave bottom` and openings therein, communicating with' the interior of thetank, of a filter support secured to the bottom ofi/said tank and conforming to the surface thereof, of filter' material resting on said support, of an. agitator Within said tank and adapted to revolve in close proximity to said filter.

16. In adevice of the class described, the combination with '.a cylindrical fiuid receptacle or tank having a concave bottom and openings therein, communicating with the `interior of the tank, of a filter support secured-to the bottom of said tank and 'con( forming to the surface thereof, of filter .material resting on Said support, 0f an agitator within said tankand adapted to revolve in close proximity to 'said filter, together with means for forcing air through the bottom of said tank.

17. qIn a device'ofthe' class described, the combination with a cylindrical fiuidtreceptacle or tank having a Vconcave-bottom and openings therein, communicating with the interior of the tank, of a filter support comprising a 'lattice grid secured to the bottom of said tank and conforming to the surface thereof,l ofl filtrer material resting :lon said support, of an ragitator within said tank and adapted to revolve in close proximity to said filter, together with means for forcing air vthrough the bottom of saidtank.

18. In a device of the class described, the combination with a cylindrical fluid recep- Y tacle or-tank `having a concave bottomv and said agitator.

openings therein,- comunicating-with the interior of the tank, of a filter support secured to the bottom of said'--tank and conforming to the surface theretif, 'of filter material resting on said support,l of an agitator comprising a series of hollow perforated arms within said tank and adapted to revolve about a horizontal axis in close` proximity to said filter, andmeans for inti'oducing air within 19. .A combined filter-and agitator, comprisinga fiuid receptacle or tank, a filter having a curved surface, and an a itator lof a like contour adapted to revolve a out a horizontal axis in close proximity to'v said surface. 20. A combinedviiltferandl agitator, comprising a fluid receptacle or tank, a filter havinga curved surface, andman adiustablev agitator comprising a series of yarms of a like contour as that of the curved surface of the filter and adapted to. revolvein close proximity to said surface.

21. A combined filter and agitator, comprising a fiuid receptacle or tank,a filter having a curved surface, and a vertically adjustable agitator comprisingl a series of arms of a like contour as that of the curved surface of the filter and-'nadapted to revolve about a horizontal axis in close proximity to said surface.

. .75 `22. A combined filter andagitator, comprising a fluid receptacle or tank, a filter having a curved surface, and a vertically adjustable agitator comprising a seriesv of arms of a like contour adapted to revolve about a horizontal axisL in close proximity to said surface, said agitator arms comprising hollow perforated tubes vadapted to introduce air or liquid within said tank.

23. A combined filter and agitator, comprising a Huid receptacle, a vertically adi justable hollow7 perforated agitator adapted tofrevolve about a horizontal axis, and y means for filtering the contents of said receptacle.

24. A combined filter and agitator comprising a` receptacle havinga hemispherical bottom and a hollow perforated7 stirrer adapted to revolve about a horizontal axis' Within said receptacle, and in close proximity to all portions of said bottom at some time during a. singlev revolution of'said axis.

25. A combined filter and agitator' comprising a receptacle having a concave botu tom, and a stirrer comprising a plurality of continuous hollow perforated arms conforming in contour to the said bottom and adapt- `ed to revolve about a horizontal axis within said receptacle and in close" proximity to. all portions of said bottom at some time during a single revolution of said axis.

26. A combined filter and agitator com- .prising a receptacle having a concave 'bot-v tom, and a hollow perforated stirrer adapt- 4ed toA revolve about a horizontal axis within said receptacle and inclose proximity to all portions of said bottom during each revoluthe -material being ait Chicago', Cook county,"'120 

